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It is probably unrealistic for a children's book to touch on how immigrants were treated during the building of the railways - but I wish they had at least hinted at it. Might as well teach kids the whole history if you're going to go for it. Though I guess I'm free to simply tell my child about it myself.

NYPL Staff Pick
Along steel rails a family travels the newly opened transcontinental railroad. Hear the sounds, see the sights, and take an amazing journey over mountains, through plains, and finally to the sea.

My 2 year old really enjoyed this book. The illustrations are amazing and the attention to detail is fantastic. There is enough going on that I stole the book from my son's room one evening so I could look longer. Do check out Brian Floca's other titles. Lightship is one that my son loved even more. Not as long or as detailed but just as enjoyable for all.

Almost perfect book. I read it to my 2 year old. Although it pushes his attention span, he loves it. The rhythm of the prose is just right. As a parent, I'm still not tired of reading it to him and I learned a little about the history of rail and steam engines.

"The award-winning creator of Moonshot presents a richly detailed visual exploration of America's early railroads that examines the sounds, speed and strength of the fledgling transcontinental locomotives and the experiences of pioneering travellers." Kids' Books April 2014 newsletter http://www.libraryaware.com/996/NewsletterIssues/ViewIssue/e46cb15a-8a5d-465f-8496-f1c49da127f1?postId=60b10445-518e-4eac-9e1b-fd8c286e2aca

Experience history through the images and sounds of the first locomotives. Young boys will absolutely love all the train noises that are strewn throughout. This key trait will keep their attention as the author goes into lengthier details about the trip, sights, passengers, and train itself.

Great care has gone into the train's look, however characters and backgrounds are much simpler. This means that we do not experience some of the grand vistas these travelers would have seen to full effect.

Considering how much history there is to early trains, the author successfully creates a well-rounded picture of their function, and importance to the people of the era. For both the United States and Canada they unified east to west, and the people on this particular journey go the full distance.

The transcontinental express changed everything for America, and yet, until now, it has never been properly lauded in a book for children large and small. Locomotive fulfills that need, and then goes above and beyond the call of duty to give its readers the thrill of being there themselves. Would that all works recounting history could be imbued with Floca’s wit and sense and scale. It’s a big, long, dense book and frankly after reading it you won’t have it any other way. Ride the rails.

Summary

“Here is a road made for crossing the country, a new road of rails made for people to ride.” As we read these words we are standing in the center of some railroad tracks staring on a beautiful sunny day at the horizon where they disappear. A couple pages cover the creation of those tracks that were part of the transcontinental railway system, and then we meet our average family. In Omaha, Nebraska, 1869, a family waits for their train. When at last it arrives they board, bound for San Francisco. From here, Floca takes you through every step of this trip. He introduces people like the brakemen or the conductor. He discusses what makes the train run and the places you pass along the way. Everything from toilets and food to sleeping arrangements and rickety bridges are discussed. By the end the family arrives in one piece in San Francisco, grateful to the train but relieved to be off it once more. Backmatter includes an extensive “Note on the Locomotive” as well as a useful listing of various sources.